Oct. 4, 2013

Fossil Ridge No. 2 doubles player Trevor Swanbom hits a volley during the regional tennis tournament at Fossil Ridge High School on Thursday. Swanbom and partner Kevin Schultz took first at the regional, helping Fossil Ridge to a second straight team title. / V. Richard Haro/The Coloradoan

When it’s done with extreme etiquette, though, even that throat-stepping can be an ice-breaker toward a respectful relationship.

The Fossil Ridge boys tennis team has plenty of experience finishing matches, and opponents, in the past two seasons. In those two seasons, the first with coaches Judy and Steve Schultz, the SaberCats have learned to win. They have also learned to do so nicely.

So, as nice as you please, the SaberCats won the first regional they’ve hosted Thursday at Fossil Ridge High School. Every position made a finals appearance, and every doubles team won. No. 1 singles player Lucas Martin also took home a regional title. With the SaberCats’ No. 2 and 3 singles players earning trips to state as runner-ups, every position qualified for state.

“I feel like I’m playing pretty well,” Martin said. “We’ve played some tough schools, and I’ve done pretty good against them. So I feel pretty good about how I’m playing and how I’m going into state.”

Those tough schools included a dual match against Cherry Creek which Fossil Ridge lost 7-0 Tuesday at home. It was the first time those school have met in a dual. Fossil Ridge coach Judy Schultz said it was a big step for the program to get perennial champion Cherry Creek to agree to a dual, let alone have the Bruins agree to come to Fossil Ridge.

That’s a testament to a much-improved Fossil Ridge team, one that has now won two-straight regional titles. It’s also a testament to an increased focus on etiquette, something that often serves as the launching point for a team’s repuation - even ahead of a winning tradition.

“In the past, we kind of had a reputation at Fossil about four years ago for (poor) sportsmanship,” Swanbom said. “We don’t have that any more at all. It’s a really strict line, and everybody really makes sure to keep their heads on the court.”

Swanbom’s No. 2 doubles partner is Kevin Schultz, coach Judy and Steve Schultz’s son. But there was no pause to worry about offending Kevin when Swanbom talked about what the Schultz’s have meant to the SaberCats.

Now Fossil Ridge is a serious contender at the Class 5A State Championships Oct. 10-12 at the Gates Tennis Center in Denver. The SaberCats proved at regionals they aren’t afraid to stomp opponents, as they put away sets like Joey Chestnut puts away hot dogs. The SaberCats posted wins of 6-1, 6-2 (Martin); 6-1, 6-1 (Gabe Pagat and Griffin Kosonocky); 6-4, 6-0 (Kevin and Swanbom); 6-2, 6-1 (Scott Sunset and David DeFrancia); and 6-3, 6-0 (Benji Walts and Jon Anderson).

Close individual matches against Cherry Creek proved to the SaberCats’ doubles teams that they can hang against the Bruins if they meet in the state finals. Wins against Fairview and other top schools have proved Fossil Ridge can get there.

Kevin and Swanbom have one goal in mind since taking fourth at state last season. They want to win. Others, Pagat and Kosonocky, are happy to get there.

“That was my goal at the beginning of the season,” Pagat said. “Everything else is icing on the cake.”

Fossil Ridge’s focus on etiquette is bound to win the SaberCats some friends, even if they happen to step on some throats along the way.

Tyler Silvy covers high school sports for The Coloradoan. Reach him via email at TylerSilvy@coloradoan.com or by phone at (970) 589-3829. Connect with him at Facebook.com/TylerSilvy or @TylerSilvy on Twitter.